NFL ROUNDUP \ Wednesday’s news & notes

Titans: That blur speeding away from opposing defenses and running off with The Associated Press 2009 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award is Chris Johnson. Considered the fastest man in pro football, Johnson was uncatchable in setting a league mark for yards from scrimmage (2,509) and becoming the sixth player with a 2,000-yard rushing season. He is the first NFL player to finish with at least 2,000 yards rushing and 500 receiving (503). That earned the second-year pro 38 1/2 votes Wednesday from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. Johnson easily beat New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, who received nine votes. “I kind of realize what I did and I feel like I had a dream season,” said Johnson, who scored 16 touchdowns (14 rushing), second to Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson, and tied the NFL mark with six consecutive games rushing for at least 125 yards.

Jets: Wide receiver Braylon Edwards returned to practice Wednesday after missing a day to make a court appearance in Cleveland. Edwards was placed on probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor aggravated disorderly conduct Tuesday. He said he was upset about having to miss practice, especially with the Jets preparing for their playoff game at San Diego on Sunday. “Finally that situation’s behind me, so I’m able to forget about it,” he said. “I’m able to fully step out of Cleveland and do everything I can as a Jet. I’m happy I can relax and just play football.” Edwards initially pleaded not guilty in November to misdemeanor assault after he was accused of punching a friend of NBA star LeBron James on Oct. 5 outside a downtown nightclub. The former Browns receiver was traded to the Jets two days later. Judge Michelle Earley gave Edwards a suspended 180-day jail sentence and fined him $1,000. His probation will be inactive, which means he won’t have to report to a probation officer.

Patriots: Junior Seau is retiring again and looking ahead to more time on his surfboard. The 12-time Pro Bowl linebacker, who came out of retirement to rejoin the New England Patriots in their sixth game this season, said in remarks taped for broadcast Wednesday night on Showtime that he’s ending his career. Seau played eight games for the Patriots this season, all as a backup, finishing with last Sunday’s 33-14 playoff loss to Baltimore in which he made a season-high five tackles. “That’s going to be my last game,” he said during the interview taped on Wednesday. That was more definitive than comments earlier in the interview when he said, “I’m going to go surf. ... Whatever happens, I can say, honestly say, that that probably was my last game.” Seau first left football briefly in August 2006 after 13 seasons with San Diego and three with Miami.

Associated Press